Case study: Overseas OAPs

Arthur and Marie Ottley used to live near Colchester in Essex - but their retirement will be spent in France.

Like nearly 35,000 other British pensioners, they decided that life across the Channel was more agreeable than at home.

"It's the long hot summers and the short mild winter that we really love," said Mrs Ottley, 64.

The couple had always loved France and bought a holiday home near their current home in the village of Melle a few years ago.

But it did not take long to decide that they wanted to make France into their permanent home, not just a place to visit occasionally.

They sold their holiday home and bought a home in the centre of the small village which has a market, a few shops and a cinema.

Their holiday home had been in the countryside, but they felt that being in a town was a better idea for their retirement.

Mrs Ottley, who used to run an insulation company with her husband, said: "We've seen lots of other people bury themselves in the countryside and it's not a very clever idea. There might come a time in the future when one of us cannot drive."

The Ottleys are thrilled with their move to Melle and their son lives a 10 minutes' drive from Stansted airport in Essex which means he can fly to see his parents easily.

Getting back to Britain is also easy. There are cheap flights from either Poitiers or La Rochelle, a fast train or a drive which can be done in less than a day.

She said: "There is a French alternative for just about everything apart from Bird's Custard Powder.

"And there is no need to put the heating on for more than an hour a day."